Officially, the administration is furious over such leaks.

The Secretary's action followed months of criticism of the laboratory over long-term leaks of low-level radioactive materials in a storage tank.

The Senate today plunges blindly into a showdown with journalists over leaks from its Judiciary and Ethics committees.

As a result of official embarrassment and concerns over possible leaks just prior to the real invasion, all survivors were sworn to secrecy by their superiors.

The concern over leaks began in the months preceding Carleton S. Fiorina's ouster as chief executive last year, the company said.

There was also an aborted cease-fire offer from the I.R.A., anger over leaks to the press and an apology for a fatal bomb attack.

The company concern over leaks from its board began while Ms. Fiorina was chief executive.

The lawyers further maintained that less drastic alternatives to near-total isolation were available, beginning with what they called "greater prosecutorial controls over leaks from police sources."

At the time, the laboratory was embroiled in a controversy over leaks of radioactive tritium at a reactor building.